Shiflet Valentine Tradition

For the past few Valentine's the kids have made this day very special for their parents. E and J.M. get dressed up, prepare and serve their Mom and Dad a special Valentine's dinner. It is so sweet to see how creative they are and how much they enjoy serving and honoring their parents in this way. Each year they seem to become more detailed in doing special things like vases of freshly picked flowers from the yard, cut out paper hearts to decorate the table as well as specially arranging the candles around the table. Oh and how could I forget the "walkie talkie" system J.M. created for us to let them know when we need refills...so cute! and quite ingenious. Truly a blessing I look forward to.

They are such good cooks now that most of the work is done by them and they shoo me out of the kitchen to get dressed up and wait for Daddy to come home...I am so proud of them and grateful for children who love to give and serve.

Our first Valentine with Emily...I spent all day decorating Emily's bedroom to look like a restraunt, I hung sheets to divide the room, and picked flowers-we lived in the country. Then I got dressed up and prepared a special meal for the two (three, Emily (4 mo. old) was sleeping though!) of us to surprise Daddy when he got home from work. It worked and he loved it.

We were so young and going out was a huge luxury that we just could not always afford-even for Valentines. Over the years though, I have grown to love this Shiflet Valentine Tradition...I would even say I am spoiled by it because I would rather do this than go to any restraunt! Thank you, my precious children for carrying on the tradition.